Is this neglect?

mollichop

mollichop

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One of our van drivers at work has noticed this horse on her regular route. She used to have a horse herself and is concerned at the state of his matted mane and tail. He is the only horse in a huge field.

She cannot see any water source although that's not to say there isn't one. I have zoomed in on these pics she has taken as cannot get any closer without trespassing into the field.

He was desperatly trrying to swot flies in the heat the other day but mane and tail in lumps so not working :(

She cannot see his feet properly but due to state of the rest of him, thinks probably not cared for. Also says he looks like he has rainscald - poor chap.

So, as he has plenty of grass (is rather fat) would RSPCA / WHW pay a visit just due to matted hair? Is this neglect or just a horse in a natural state? :confused:

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She has knocked on nearby doors but no answer.
 
I would call the BHS or WHW. The horse looks like he may have been left for a long period of time, and if so, they need to get to the bottom of it.
 
Yep they will go and look and if they can trace the owner will speak to them regarding the horses conditon and advise on the care they should be giving etc and will arrange to go back and see that they have taken steps to do something.

It can and will take forever for there to be any obvious change as they have to give the owners a chance to put things right etc etc as long as there is a water supply - clearly has enough grazing - there is little else they can do unless the owner asks for help.:(
 
Wow that's horrific!! I'd be concerned over it's weight too so definately a call to the ILPH (or whatever they call themselves now..sorry old school here!) is on the cards.
 
Ditto, would call WHW. The horse is overwieght, and if it does have rainscald, that will need treating or it may become infected.
 
obesity is a form of unnecessary suffering in itself - a vet may also say that the matted ball thingys in the main and tail are preventing normal behaviour, i.e. being able to fly swat. There may be lami there too.

Yup, thinking about it, I would make that call. :)
 
The horse looks like it has burrs in it's mane and tail - which will become (if not allready) quite uncomfortable - so does need some attention.

Personally I'd give the WHW a buzz, say you're concerned about the horse and go from there.

Bodily it is very well - is bound to have water (otherwise it wouldn't look like that), but is perhaps not getting the care and attention it deserves.

Unkempt and a little wanting - perhaps. Horrific????? No.
 
amymay said:
Unkempt and a little wanting - perhaps. Horrific????? No.
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Really? Obviously we have massively different levels of care for our animals then because if I saw a horse with mane and tail in that condition I would most definatley be horrified. Think my thick mane and tailed horse should be most grateful I don't consider that condition to be 'a little wanting' or 'unkempt' otherwise he might find himself subjected to that sort of level of care. :rolleyes:
 
jsr said:
Obviously we have massively different levels of care for our animals
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Don't you just love it when someone does the "I care for my horses much better than you" bit on here!:rolleyes:

Just because someone is not 'horrified' by a matted tail, does NOT mean that they would allow their own animals to get in that state or that their own standards are lacking. It just means that in terms of neglect, there are much more horrifying sights to be seen - emaciated animals, suppurating wounds, ponies crippled with laminitis etc.

I agree that the horse needs attention, but I am not 'horrified' by it either.
 
shysmum said:
obesity is a form of unnecessary suffering in itself - a vet may also say that the matted ball thingys in the main and tail are preventing normal behaviour, i.e. being able to fly swat. There may be lami there too.

Yup, thinking about it, I would make that call. :)
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This. He isn't just a bit overweight - he is obese.

I would imagine he has access to water, as if not he'd be dead in a week. I just wish there was a law which refered to fences like that for horses - such a risk!

Definately ring WHW or BHS. I don't think at this stage the horse needs to be taken off its owners, but they do need either educating or told that this isn't an acceptable way of keeping a horse.
 
CeeBee said:
Lovely horsie, too. I'll have him if he doesn't belong to anyone!
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I'll let you know what happens - although the lady who took the pics would quite like him too! :)

TGM - This is what I was asking. I wouldn't keep my horse like this, but wasn't sure if deemed a welfare issue, as burs do get stuck but IMO should not be left to this degree.
 
Definitely worth a call, but would be more concerned about his weight than his "matted" mane and tail. They're not so much matted as full of those sticky thingummies. My old pony (mostly Welsh) looked like that regularly. She was well cared for, checked twice a day, and groomed frequently. They just stick easily and take forever to get out. Old Posie could be groomed one evening, sticky free, mane and tail brushed out, but she'd be full of them again by morning and I'd have to spend the next evening picking them out :D
 
my first thought on looking at these photos would be that horse has not really been 'seen to' properly for some time. Looks overweight,but that wouldn't be my intitial concern,I would be wondering why the mane and tail has been allowed to become like that,must be mighty uncomfortable. I don't know much about reporting things where etc,but my first thought would be giving the ILPH,WHW or RSPCA a call to try and get hold of owner.
 
No JSR, I certainly wouldn't class an unkempt (albeit very unkempt) mane and tail horrific - and is certainly not evidence of neglect or abuse. Indeed a mane and tail can become entangled and matted by burs within an incredibly short time. They are nigh on impossible to remove too. So actually this horse may have been seen very recently - we don't know.

The following, however, is horrific - so open with care.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gri11KjFG...RM/2t13dY1kWm4/s400/oregon-horse-neglect4.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gri11KjFG...RU/9EDvcaUQoHI/s400/oregon-horse-neglect5.jpg

http://rtfitch.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/3-strikes-dead-mustang-ii.jpg
 
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Oh *****, particularly at the last one Amymay :(

There are degrees of neglect yes, but if people being horrified by the sight of an obese and matted horse in a field with unsuitable fencing means that something gets done at this stage rather than waiting til the stage of the horse in your pictures, that can only be a good thing, right?
 
I agree this horse is obese, but I wonder how many forum readers horses look remarkably similiar at this time of year?! Albeit without the matts!
I agree the horse probably needs some attention re his weight but I would not be concerned about the burrs at this point - its amazing what state a horse can get into rooting around for a couple of hours!!
 
amymay said:
No JSR, I certainly wouldn't class an unkempt (albeit very unkempt) mane and tail horrific - and is certainly not evidence of neglect or abuse. Indeed a mane and tail can become entangled and matted by burs within an incredibly short time. They are nigh on impossible to remove too. So actually this horse may have been seen very recently - we don't know.

The following, however, is horrific - so open with care.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_gri11KjFG...RM/2t13dY1kWm4/s400/oregon-horse-neglect4.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gri11KjFG...RU/9EDvcaUQoHI/s400/oregon-horse-neglect5.jpg

http://rtfitch.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/3-strikes-dead-mustang-ii.jpg
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Oh I'm so sorry that I find an animals neglect and abuse as horrific, obviously I'll have to pick my words more carefully for those who like to nit pick. :rolleyes: FFS this place is hysterical, no one can post anything without some pedantic bored person bouncing up and down. Jeez I've never seen a site with so many know it alls. Good job I have a sense of humour and can laugh at you trying to be so clever.
 
The matted mane and tail are not cause for concern - they are full of those nasty sticky ball things which if you have them in your field, you will know that you can remove them one day and they will be full of them again the next.
 
DragonSlayer said:
Didn't take this thread long to start an argy-bargy, did it?
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Isn't that what happens here? I've only been visiting the last couple of weeks and seems that every thread has to have some one being rude and nasty for no reason? Can totally understand the rep it has now.
 
My mare could get her mane and tail into that state in about 3 hours so the mane and tail would not overly concern me unless it was in that state constantly.
 
Oh I'm so sorry that I find an animals neglect and abuse as horrific, obviously I'll have to pick my words more carefully for those who like to nit pick.
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JSR, we all find the abuse and neglect of animals upsetting and yes, horrific. It's not about choosing words more carefully - but perhaps more about interpretation. Clearly you find an ungroomed horse an horrific sight, and a sign of neglect and abuse. Most of us would not. But I recognise that the world 'horror' has many different connotations for different people.

It's also not a case of nitpicking - but using words in an appropriate manner.

Imagine if the OP phoned the WHW and told them of the horric condition this horse was in - clearly this would not be the case, and is an exageration of the situation. A more appropriate phrasing would be 'showing some signs of neglect'.

You may find this forum 'hyterical' , I think it's a great place to have debates, differences of opinion and an opportunity to learn:rolleyes:;)
 
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